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About

Overview

THE CHANGING EARTH: EXPLORING GEOLOGY AND EVOLUTION, Seventh Edition, is written specifically for courses covering both physical and historical geology. Three interrelated themes (plate tectonics, organic evolution, and geologic time) help students understand that Earth is a complex, integrated, and continually changing system. In the new edition authors James S. Monroe and Reed Wicander integrate content emphasizing the economic impacts of geology. Topics such as fracking, nuclear waste, and the threat of earthquakes are covered in new Geo-Impact boxes that stress real-world applications. Lauded for their clear writing style, the authors go beyond simply explaining geology and its processes; rather, they place that knowledge within the context of human experience by consistently emphasizing relevance, resources, and the environment. New Global Geoscience Watch activities help students learn how to use an extensive database of articles on geology that are updated several times a day and are available exclusively for users of this book.

Features and Benefits

"Have You Ever Wondered?" Questions at the Beginning of Each Chapter: Intriguing questions catch students' attention and motivate them to read the chapter and find the answers.

Connections Boxes Help Students See the Big Picture: By viewing Earth as a system, students can see how its various components are interconnected and also appreciate its complex and dynamic nature. In the new edition, these inter-relationships are facilitated by Connections Boxes, a small box referring the reader to other locations in the text where more information can be found and connections made on important topics.

Geo-Images Challenge Students to Develop Strong Observational and Critical Thinking Skills: At the end of most chapters, a photo or graphic is presented that challenges students to describe the geologic processes being depicted and to support their conclusions with logical reasoning.

Recognizing geology as an especially visual science, the art program has been carefully updated, with new photographs that help students identify geologic features in the world around them, and new diagrams and maps that illustrate the concepts discussed in the text. Furthermore, the captions have been redesigned to improve readability and, where appropriate, critical thinking questions have been added to enhance student observational skill development and deepen understanding of geologic processes.

Fully updated to reflect the most current information in the field, this edition also includes coverage of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, the 2009 Haiti earthquake, volcanic eruptions in Iceland and Indonesia, floods in Pakistan, and new information on glaciers and global warming.

The two-page concept art spreads, called Geo-inSight, present an array of relevant photographs, along with in-depth captions that illuminate a specific geological landform, collection, or event. Geo-inSights improve understanding by encouraging students to analyze and synthesize information visually.

Integration of economic and environmental geology throughout the text clearly draws the connection between the relevant aspects of the course to students' lives and future careers.

Geo-Focus boxes highlight current geologic research and events. New topics include "Gems and Gemstones", "Do Volcanoes Cause Ozone Depletion?", "Industrialization and Acid Rain", and "Dams, Reservoirs, and Hydroelectric Power."

Chapter summary and review questions emphasize critical thinking and analytical skills. The last question of the Review section in each chapter includes a photograph or illustration designed to challenge students to develop strong observational and critical thinking skills.

What's New

New Geo-Impact boxes present new content emphasizing the economic impacts of geology. Topics such as fracking, nuclear waste, and the threat of earthquakes are covered in new Geo-Impact boxes that stress real-world applications.

New Global Geoscience Watch activities help students learn how to use an extensive database of articles on geology that are updated several times a day and are available exclusively for users of this book.

Alternate Formats

Choose the format that best fits your student's budget and course goals

Interested in a simple way to complement your text and course content with study and practice materials? Cengage Learning's CourseMate brings course concepts to life with interactive learning, study, and exam preparation tools that support the printed textbook. Watch student comprehension soar as your class works with the printed textbook and the textbook-specific website. CourseMate goes beyond the book to deliver what you need!

The Virtual Field Trips in Geology, by Dr. Parvinder S. Sethi from Radford University, are concept-based activities that teach students geology by using famous locations throughout the United States. Designed to be used as homework assignments or lab work, the field trips use a rich array of multimedia to demonstrate concepts. High definition videos, images, panoramas, quizzes, and Google Earth layers work together in Virtual Field Trips in Geology to bring concepts to life. Topics include: Desert Environments, Geologic Time, Hydrothermal Activity, Running Water, Sedimentary Rocks, Earthquakes & Seismicity, Glaciers & Glaciation, Igneous Rocks, Mass Wasting, Volcano Types, Plate Tectonics, Mineral Resources, Metamorphism & Metamorphic Rocks, Groundwater, and Shorelines & Shoreline Processes.

The Virtual Field Trips in Geology, by Dr. Parvinder S. Sethi from Radford University, are concept-based activities that teach students geology by using famous locations throughout the United States. Designed to be used as homework assignments or lab work, the field trips use a rich array of multimedia to demonstrate concepts. High definition videos, images, panoramas, quizzes, and Google Earth layers work together in Virtual Field Trips in Geology to bring concepts to life. Topics include: Desert Environments, Geologic Time, Hydrothermal Activity, Running Water, Sedimentary Rocks, Earthquakes & Seismicity, Glaciers & Glaciation, Igneous Rocks, Mass Wasting, Volcano Types, Plate Tectonics, Mineral Resources, Metamorphism & Metamorphic Rocks, Groundwater, and Shorelines & Shoreline Processes.

Updated several times a day, the Global Geoscience Watch is a focused portal into GREENR - our Global Reference on the Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources - an ideal one-stop site for classroom discussion and research projects for all things geoscience! Broken into the four key course areas (Geography, Geology, Meteorology, and Oceanography), you can easily get to the most relevant content available for your course. You and your students will have access to the latest information from trusted academic journals, news outlets, and magazines. You also will receive access to statistics, primary sources, case studies, podcasts, and much more!

Updated several times a day, the Global Geoscience Watch is a focused portal into GREENR - our Global Reference on the Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources - an ideal one-stop site for classroom discussion and research projects for all things geoscience! Broken into the four key course areas (Geography, Geology, Meteorology, and Oceanography), you can easily get to the most relevant content available for your course. You and your students will have access to the latest information from trusted academic journals, news outlets, and magazines. You also will receive access to statistics, primary sources, case studies, podcasts, and much more!

List Price = $24.00
| College Bookstore Wholesale Price = $18.00

Student Supplements

The more you study, the better the results. Make the most of your study time by accessing everything you need to succeed in one place. Read your textbook, take notes, review flashcards, watch videos, and take practice quizzes—online with CourseMate.

The Virtual Field Trips in Geology, by Dr. Parvinder S. Sethi from Radford University, are concept-based activities that teach you geology by using famous locations throughout the United States. Designed to be used as homework assignments or lab work, the field trips use a rich array of multimedia to demonstrate concepts. High definition videos, images, panoramas, quizzes, and Google Earth layers work together in Virtual Field Trips in Geology to bring concepts to life. Topics include: Desert Environments, Geologic Time, Hydrothermal Activity, Running Water, Sedimentary Rocks, Earthquakes & Seismicity, Glaciers & Glaciation, Igneous Rocks, Mass Wasting, Volcano Types, Plate Tectonics, Mineral Resources, Metamorphism & Metamorphic Rocks, Groundwater, and Shorelines & Shoreline Processes.

The Virtual Field Trips in Geology, by Dr. Parvinder S. Sethi from Radford University, are concept-based activities that teach you geology by using famous locations throughout the United States. Designed to be used as homework assignments or lab work, the field trips use a rich array of multimedia to demonstrate concepts. High definition videos, images, panoramas, quizzes, and Google Earth layers work together in Virtual Field Trips in Geology to bring concepts to life. Topics include: Desert Environments, Geologic Time, Hydrothermal Activity, Running Water, Sedimentary Rocks, Earthquakes & Seismicity, Glaciers & Glaciation, Igneous Rocks, Mass Wasting, Volcano Types, Plate Tectonics, Mineral Resources, Metamorphism & Metamorphic Rocks, Groundwater, and Shorelines & Shoreline Processes.

Updated several times a day, the Global Geoscience Watch is an ideal one-stop site for current events and research projects for all things geoscience! Broken into the four key course areas (Geography, Geology, Meteorology, and Oceanography), you can easily find the most relevant information for the course you are taking. You will have access to the latest information from trusted academic journals, news outlets, and magazines. You also will receive access to statistics, primary sources, case studies, podcasts, and much more!

Updated several times a day, the Global Geoscience Watch is an ideal one-stop site for current events and research projects for all things geoscience! Broken into the four key course areas (Geography, Geology, Meteorology, and Oceanography), you can easily find the most relevant information for the course you are taking. You will have access to the latest information from trusted academic journals, news outlets, and magazines. You also will receive access to statistics, primary sources, case studies, podcasts, and much more!

List Price = $24.00
| College Bookstore Wholesale Price = $18.00

Meet the Author

Author Bio

James S. Monroe

James S. Monroe is Professor Emeritus of Geology at Central Michigan University, where he taught Physical Geology, Historical Geology, Prehistoric Life, and Stratigraphy and Sedimentology beginning in 1975 and served as chair of the Geology department. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Montana. He has coauthored several textbooks with Reed Wicander and has interests in Cenozoic geology and geologic education. Monroe now lives in Chico, California, where he remains active in geology by teaching courses to a large group of retirees.

James S. Monroe is Professor Emeritus of Geology at Central Michigan University, where he taught Physical Geology, Historical Geology, Prehistoric Life, and Stratigraphy and Sedimentology beginning in 1975 and served as chair of the Geology department. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Montana. He has coauthored several textbooks with Reed Wicander and has interests in Cenozoic geology and geologic education. Monroe now lives in Chico, California, where he remains active in geology by teaching courses to a large group of retirees.

Reed Wicander

Reed Wicander is a geology professor at Central Michigan University, where he teaches Physical Geology, Historical Geology, Prehistoric Life, and Invertebrate Paleontology and was previously chair of the department. He obtained his B.A. at San Diego State University and his Ph.D. at UCLA. His main research interests involve various aspects of Paleozoic palynology, specifically the study of acritarchs, on which he has published numerous papers. He is a past president of the American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists and currently a councilor of the International Federation of Palynological Societies and chair of the Acritarch Subcommission of the Commission Internationale de Microflore du Paleozoique. He has coauthored several geology textbooks with James S. Monroe.

Reed Wicander is a geology professor at Central Michigan University, where he teaches Physical Geology, Historical Geology, Prehistoric Life, and Invertebrate Paleontology and was previously chair of the department. He obtained his B.A. at San Diego State University and his Ph.D. at UCLA. His main research interests involve various aspects of Paleozoic palynology, specifically the study of acritarchs, on which he has published numerous papers. He is a past president of the American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists and currently a councilor of the International Federation of Palynological Societies and chair of the Acritarch Subcommission of the Commission Internationale de Microflore du Paleozoique. He has coauthored several geology textbooks with James S. Monroe.